Steve Z. Urge, Jr.
Former mayor pushed growth of Put-in-Bay
PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio - Steve Z. Urge, 80, a former mayor and councilman of this small village and resort destination on Lake Erie's South Bass Island, died on the island Friday.
The family attributed the death to an aneurysm, his daughter, Teri Pierce, said.
Mr. Urge was a native of Cleveland who in 1980 gave up his family heating and plumbing business there to move to Put-in-Buy with his wife, Joy.
A spirited Republican with a lifelong interest in politics, Mr. Urge was a member of Put-in-Bay's council in the early 1980s before his election to mayor.
He went on to serve three mayoral terms from 1984 to 1995, a period during which Put-in-Bay experienced much growth in its summer resort and tourist industry, including the start of the Jet Express ferry service from Port Clinton.
Glenn Cooper, a former village councilman, said Mr. Urge showed foresight in his decisions and planning that helped Put-in-Bay toward future growth.
"He did a very good job as mayor of helping to move the community forward when it needed to be moved," said Mr. Cooper, now a Put-in-Bay Township trustee.
As mayor, Mr. Urge oversaw the expansion of the village's sewer service as well as the building of a new water tower that initially was criticized by some as being too big for the village.
The U.S. Census estimated 130 village residents in 2007.
Yet the island's tourism eventually grew to use all the water tower's capacity and more.
"He did the right things at the right times," Mr. Cooper said. "He was not a sit-in-the-back-and-let-it-happen kind of guy."
Upon settling in Put-in-Bay, Mr. Urge and his wife bought Cooper's Restaurant, now known as The Goat, and operated it for several years with a gift shop - the Cellar Cache.
By the early 1990s, they sold the restaurant and moved their gift shop into the old blacksmith's shop where it is today.
For years, Mr. Urge also worked as an agent with Bolte Real Estate.
He was well-known for his outgoing and gregarious spirit, his son, Dane Urge, said.
Born in 1928, Mr. Urge served in the Coast Guard during the later part of World War II and returned to Cleveland to help run his father's business, Standard Heating and Plumbing.
In 1955, he married the former Joy Romig. With their three children, they often vacationed on Pelee Island in Ontario, and in the mid-1970s bought a summer home in Put-in-Bay. The home soon became a year-round residence.
"He enjoyed the simplicity of the island," his daughter said.
Surviving are his wife, Joy Urge; son, Dane Urge; daughters, Teri Pierce and Randi Wertenbach; sister, Elsie Ruggiero, and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be an hour before the 2:30 p.m. services in Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, Put-in-Bay. A reception will follow at Put-in-Bay Town Hall
The Neidecker, LeVeck, & Crosser Funeral Home, Port Clinton, is handling arrangements.
The family suggests tributes to Put-in-Bay EMS or toward a scholarship with Put-in-Bay Local School District.
©2009 The Blade. Toledo, OH
Source: The Blade. Toledo, OH, 14 Oct 2008
Online
Name in obit headline (2nd obit)
Source: The Painesville Telegraph, 5 Apr 1957, page 4
Microfilmed archives, Morley Library, Painesville, Lake, Ohio
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